When the coronavirus affected millions of people, it was difficult to find the right medicine. Different techniques to cure the patients were tried and a lot of medicines and vaccines have been recommended but caused doubts among individuals during the pandemic. Finding the natural and right remedy was a struggle and seemed to be rare. However, upon finding this coconut research, I am convinced that COVID-19 can be cured through the use of coconut oil and with the help of a Great physician. (I’m not a Great physician, I am just an individual who believes in oil therapy). Hence, I have trusted the effect of coconut oil especially if it has been properly administered.
To know more about the proven effects of coconut oil in treating COVID-19 symptoms and its impact on improving biochemical markers, read the research presented below.
Reasons why coconut oil is effective in treating covid19
Virgin coconut oil is a natural remedy that can help treat the symptoms of covid19 due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
1. Antiviral
To treat covid19 symptoms, treatment plan should include the reduction of viral infection of susceptible cells. COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The antiviral activity of VCO can help in improving the symptoms of COVID-19. Virgin coconut oil has anti-viral properties as its two fatty acids – lauric acid (C12) and capric acid (C10) and its monoglycerides – monolaurin (glycerol monolaurate) and monocaprin have antiviral properties. Monolaurin and lauric acid can cause the disintegration of the virus envelope, inhibit the late maturation stage in the virus replicative cycle, and prevent the binding of viral proteins to the host cell membrane. Meanwhile, monolaurin which acts as antibacterial and anti-viral helps boost the immune system. Monolaurin can kill different types of viruses, particularly enveloped viruses such as influenza and coronavirus 229E. Virgin coconut oil’s metabolites produce highly ordered membranes which can disrupt pathogens’ (organism-causing disease) cellular function such as viruses. Due to its antibiotic property, it is also used as a modulator of the cellular immune system. Other components of the virgin coconut oil such as capric acid (C10) and monocaprin also showed promising antiviral properties, particularly against HIV-1 infection, and other infections caused by a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2) and influenza-A virus.
2. Anti-inflammatory
Another treatment needed for covid patients is the clearance of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Inflammation plays a significant role in covid disease. Hence to treat covid, hyperinflammation must also be controlled. During COVID-19 infection, inflammatory chemicals are released and this results in hyperinflammation. However, this forces the immune cells to destroy healthy cells. When there’s a sudden increase of activated immune cells, lung inflammation, fluid build-up and even respiratory distress can occur. Virgin coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory properties can inhibit chronic inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties can be attributed to the phytochemicals in virgin coconut oil. Phytochemicals are a good source of antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals and toxic intermediates. This defense mechanism enables virgin coconut oil to sustain glutathione in the body thus decreasing inflammation, as glutathione has anti-inflammatory effect and can remove free radicals that can cause damage to the body.
Research that proves virgin coconut oil’s efficacy
A randomized double-blind controlled intervention trial evaluated the effects of virgin coconut oil on the symptoms and biochemical markers of patients that are suspected or probable cases of COVID-19. The intervention program was conducted for 28 days in Santa Rosa Community Hospital Isolation Unit (SRCHIU) and Santa Rosa Community Isolation Facility (SRCIF). These are two isolation facilities that can be found in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines.
63 adult patients who were suspected to be infected by COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. They were 20 years old and above and had been confined for 3 days or less than 3 days at the isolation unit facility. The patients were designated into two groups. The control group which received only the standardized meal, and the intervention group which was provided with a standardized meal mixed with virgin coconut oil. Virgin coconut oil dosage for the VCO group was based on the patient’s weight and the required VCO dosage per day. For days 1 to 3, 0.6 mL per kilogram body weight was given to the VCO group, and the oil was blended with meals served at breakfast. On days 4 to 28, the VCO dose was adjusted and increased to 1.2 mL/kg body weight and was mixed with the patient’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. Evaluation to see the effect of virgin coconut oil on covid symptoms and patients improvement in terms of biochemical markers such as white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, CD4, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels were measured three times at baseline or day 1, and on the 14th and 28th day of the intervention. Moreover, COVID symptoms such as cough, colds, body aches, headache, loss of taste, and fever were monitored daily. Then, the researchers compared the differences between the two groups and the periods of measurement.
Weight
After the intervention, the body mass index of the VCO group increased and their
weight increased by about 0.8 kg. Though this weight increase is not significantly different from the other group. By taking VCO, the intervention group ingested additional calories, this, and the limited physical activity in the isolation facility were concluded to be the reason why the patient’s weight increased.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol helps in building the structure of cell membranes, make hormones, helps metabolism, and produces bile acid (2) hence needed by our body to function properly. However, cholesterol must only be in the normal range as too high cholesterol can lead to coronary artery disease. The result of this presented research showed that after the intervention, the LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol level of the VCO group significantly increased, and was higher compared to the control group. Despite the LDL-cholesterol increase, it was still within the normal range. Despite that virgin coconut oil is high in saturated fat, it is high in medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which increases the HDL cholesterol. The high saturated fatty acids, lauric, and myristic acid content in virgin coconut oil could be attributed to the increase in HDL cholesterol. Some plant-based oils have polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, meanwhile virgin coconut oil is high in MCFA, hence does not increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
White blood
It has been said that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and coconut oil metabolites influence the activity of the immune system. It affects the intestinal lumen’s epithelial lining and cytokine secretion to fight pathogens. VCO’s immunomodulatory property can suppress inflammatory cytokines. (1) Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. (3) A type of white blood cell called T-cells or CD4 count which destroys bacteria, viruses, and germs increases when VCO as immunomodulator disturbs the membranes of microbial organisms thus destroying it as well as interferes with virus assemble and maturation, and increases macrophage activity (1) (Macrophages are white blood cells that surround and kills microorganism, get rid of dead cells and stimulates the action of another immune system. (4) Results of the study showed that there was no significant difference observed in CD4 (white blood cells) levels
in all of the participants before, during, and after the intervention. The CD4 count increased gradually from before the treatment to after the intervention program in both groups, but there was a significant increase among the VCO group, which shows that VCO has a positive effect on CD4 count.
Liver protein or C-reactive Protein
C-reactive Protein (CRP) is a protein that is produced by the liver. Normally we have low levels and CRP in the blood, but if we have inflammation our liver releases more CRP hence high levels of CRP mean that we have a serious health condition that causes the inflammation. (5) Before the manifestation of symptoms such as pain or fever, the CRP level usually increases. However, it drops as the body recovers, hence it is usually checked to monitor infections. In this study, the CRP level in the intervention group significantly decreased and eventually on the 14th day, CPR levels normalized compared to the control group. Before the intervention program, the patients’ CRP level shows that upon admission, they already have either an infection or inflammation. Upon the consumption of virgin coconut oil, the CRP of patients in the VCO group norrmalized as early as day 14. Meanwhile, the patients in the control group remained at the borderline until day 28. The rapid CRP level normalization in the virgin coconut oil group showed that VCO is effective in regulating inflammatory processes. This could be attributed to VCO’s anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties of VCO metabolites.
Symptoms
The findings of the study also showed that the participants in the VCO group have faster relief from COVID-19 symptoms. As early as the second day of the intervention program, where the VCO group was only given a low VCO dose, 17%) of patients in the VCO group have already shown improvement in their COVID symptoms, while only 3.6% from the control group (no VCO) manifested improvement. At day 18 VCO group showed no more COVID-19-related symptoms, while covid symptoms in the patients in the Control group persisted until day 23. The patients in the VCO group’s early improvement could be attributed to VCO’s anti-inflammatory or immunomodulation properties.
While there are lots of available synthetic drugs out there that are expensive and might have side effects, make sure that you are making a wise decision. Effective natural remedies make you spend wisely, as they are effective, natural, and have proven effects, without causing you any adverse effects.
Discover and rely on natural effective remedies ❤
References:
- (1) Angeles-Agdeppa I., Nacis J.S., Capanzana M.V., Dayrit F.M., Tanda K.V. Virgin coconut oil is effective in lowering C-reactive protein levels among suspect and probable cases of COVID-19. Journal of Functional Foods 83 (2021) 104557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.104557
- (2) Better Health Channel. Cholesterol. Date retrieved:3/29/2023. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cholesterol
- (3) American Cancer Society. Cytokines and their side effects. Date retrieved: 3/29/2023. https://cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/cytokines.html
- (4) National Cancer Institute. Macrophage. Date retrieved: 3/29/2023. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/macrophage
- (5) National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test. Date retrieved: 3/29/2023. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c-reactive-protein-crp-test/#:~:text=CRP%20is%20a%20protein%20that,health%20condition%20that%20causes%20inflammation.
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